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Dr. Abramson’s research
focuses on the psychology of language, specifically the processes associated
with reading and spoken word recognition. She is currently working on studies
about the role of auditory imagery in silent reading and the memory
representations activated during reading and speech recognition. Recent
publications include a study of vowel- and consonant-length effects in visual
word recognition. |
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Dr. Boone’s research
focuses on parent-adolescent relationships and how communication between
parents and adolescents influences adolescent sexual behaviors and drug/alcohol
use. Her current research projects include examination of mother-adolescent
communication about health topics including sexuality, drugs/alcohol, and
nutrition and exercise. She is also conducting a study examining the sources
from which late adolescents and young adults have received information about
sex and sexuality. |
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The emphasis in Dr.
Deegan’s lab is color vision. He uses both psychophysical and
electrophysiological methods in an effort to understand color vision in both
humans and animals. He encourages graduate students who have a well defined
physiological investigation of neuronal processes to contact me to discuss
possible collaboration. Finally, there are a number of studies that he would
like to have completed, which are related to the visual systems of rats/mice
that a motivated graduate student might find interesting. |
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Dr. Duran’s research
interests include person perception, person memory, and decision making
(including the underlying cognitive processes). Her favorite areas of research
are theories of prejudice and the relationship between prejudice and
discrimination. Currently, she is working on a study examining our expectations
for others about whom we have a little information. In addition, one of her
current projects addresses the cognitive organization of prejudice. Finally,
she is examining the effects of perceived differences of morals for in-group
and out-group members. |
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Dr. Ishida is a clinical
psychologist interested in the interface between brain functioning and
behavior. He has an interest in evolutionary psychology which uses Darwinian
principles in explaining the shaping of the major characteristics of human
nature. This influence manifests itself in cognitive brain sex differences,
human mating preferences, and cultural institutions such as politics and
religion. Finally, Dr. Ishida believes that these themes play themselves out
across the lifespan, including in later adulthood where he has training in
clinical geropsychology with on emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. |
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Dr. Leon’s research concerns
the brain mechanisms underlying learning and memory. In particular, he is
studying how the brain acquires, represents and stores auditory experiences.
During learning, cells in the auditory cortex of both animals and humans become
more responsive to behaviorally important sounds. Using the rat as a model, he
has been able to change the representation and storage of information in the
auditory cortex by pharmacological manipulation of the cholinergic system,
which is negatively impacted in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative
diseases. This line of research is revealing normal brain functions and may be
applicable to ameliorating types of neurological dysfunction. |
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The primary focus of Dr.
Sumaya’s lab is the study of the indoleamine neurohormone, melatonin and
its in vivo behavioral effects in animal models including Parkinsonism,
Depression and Anxiety. Of special interest is the effect of melatonin on the
D2 dopaminergic receptor system during extrapyramidal motor disturbances. Also
studied are the circadian effects of various D2 dopaminergic agonists and
antagonists which are used in clinical populations in the treatment of
Schizophrenia. |
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Dr. Suter’s research
focuses on human visual neuroscience. He is interested in the neural basis of
vision, in general using brain activity to explain visual processing in humans.
In his lab, they record brain activity from surface recording electrodes while
people look at stimuli on video monitors. Currently, he is examining the brain
activity needed to organize a visual jumble into a coherent perception. In
addition, he is conducting a study on the brain mechanisms of backward masking
in which stimuli are rendered invisible by subsequent stimuli. |
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Dr. Vega’s research focuses
on social psychology, intergroup relations, social identity, and social
influence. He is currently working on a project examining perceived
discrimination processes including scapegoating and social identity. In
addition, Dr. Vega’s current research focuses on issues related to scaling
and measurement. |
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